... so I'd probably take it with a pinch of salt! He would('ve) be(en) a good Bilbo, but maybe it's time for an unknown actor if not Martin? ~*Haudh-en-Ndengin the Elves named it, the Hill of Slain, and Haugh-en-Nirnaeth, the Hill of tears... the earth beneath which the swords of the Eldar and the Edain crumbled into rust*~

that needs to be kicked square in the pants and booted to the curb for its pure silliness. Get on it you zany rumor-confirmer-people. King Arthur: Who are you who can summon fire without flint or tinder? Tim: There are some who call me... Tim.

Tim: Follow. But. Follow only if ye be TORNsibs of valour, for the making of The Hobbit is guarded by a creature so foul, so cruel that no TORNsib yet has fought with it and lived. Bones of an A List veteran director lie strewn about its lair. So, brave TORNsibs, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for Hollywood studio bureaucratic ineptitude awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth!

Studio Exec: And that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana-shaped. Studio CEO: This new learning amazes me, Studio Lapdog. Explain again how sheeps' bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes.

That studios don't pay the actors on films like these that are guaranteed to make them100's of millions in profit...that's just pure greed...the actors do some of the hardest and most important work in a film (especially characters like Sam), and shareholders reap all the benefits..!?

OK maybe for LOTR movies (or at least the first one), but after you know the movies to follow will make huge profits, it is pure capitalistic greed that would not pay lead actors a fair share. I would think Jackson (a mulit-millionaire because of LOTR films) would at least look after his lead actors better, if the studio shareholders are unwilling to part with a couple of million in pocket change..!?

I meant to add...do you know Martin Freeman? Just curious as to why you don't think he will be cast..

At any rate, a minimum seven figure salary of: $1,000,000 seems unlikely to me, (too high) but who knows? Maybe another season of TV pays better and it is steady work with the possibility of more seasons and work to come. Once The Hobbit finished filming, he'd be unemployed, so it may well be true.

Update from the Home Page: Martin Freeman was First Choice for Bilbo
[In reply to]

Can't Post

(Re-posted News From Bree post from the Home Page to keep the Martin Freeman discussion in one thread)

With the recent news, from the somewhat questionable source at The Sun, that Martin Freeman has declined to be a lead in two 'Hobbit' films, it is time to talk Bilbo Baggins.

While we have no information (yet) if Freeman actually turned down the role, we can say with absolute certainty that he was the first choice to step into the hairy Hobbit feet as early as last year. Developing and keeping good sources means that sometimes secrets must stay secret but since Freeman has been outed now, we can definitively declare that 'The Sun' article is absolutely talking about the right actor and so the rest of the story may well have merit.

However, the source, or the authors, seem a little confused. The story claims in quotes: "MGM, who are making the film, only got a formal offer over in the last couple of weeks."

Those following the production, even moderately carefully, will know that MGM is in deep financial trouble and it seems much more likely that the offer, if a formal one was provided, would have come from Warner Bros. and not MGM which lacks a leadership team. But, if a formal offer did come, it points toward MGM's September 15 deadline as actually meaning something with change with the legendary studio, allowing production to start.

The story also fits with news we heard recently of another round of casting for Bilbo, despite hearing that Freeman was already very much wanted for the role, lending the idea that he no longer in the picture some credibility. On that front we will follow up with a story later and perhaps an inadvertently leaked story detail.

The whole waiting game that forced director Guillermo del Toro to step away from the production and get back to his job or directing movies may have cost the films an excellent 'Bilbo' as well. If readers will permit just a bit of editorializing, this reporter at least was very much looking forward to seeing Martin as Bilbo Baggins and can only hope that 'The Sun' was given incorrect information or that Freeman would reconsider or somehow juggle his schedule and not pass up a role that would immortalize him and deliver perfectly for fans. Koru: Maori symbol representing a fern frond as it opens. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new, positive beginnings.

"Life can't be all work and no TORn" -- jflower

"I take a moment to fervently hope that the camaradarie and just plain old fun I found at TORn will never end" -- LOTR_nutcase

Sweet my first choice was GDT and PJ's first choice. Great minds think alike.

Now we just have to find out if it's true he's not going to be in it. Let me be first to say if this is true Mr. Freeman please reconsider! King Arthur: Who are you who can summon fire without flint or tinder? Tim: There are some who call me... Tim.

Tim: Follow. But. Follow only if ye be TORNsibs of valour, for the making of The Hobbit is guarded by a creature so foul, so cruel that no TORNsib yet has fought with it and lived. Bones of an A List veteran director lie strewn about its lair. So, brave TORNsibs, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for Hollywood studio bureaucratic ineptitude awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth!

Studio Exec: And that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana-shaped. Studio CEO: This new learning amazes me, Studio Lapdog. Explain again how sheeps' bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes.

First of all nobody knows what final production costs will run to compared to how popular the movie will be and what it will gross so talent costs during production are always kept at a minimum.

We are often then paid a minimal "retainer" whilst shooting followed by several bonus payments or royalties based on the performance of the movie and associated marketing and merchandising.

Elijah, Ian, Viggo and other lead characters in LOTR were paid around USD $800 per day retainer plus food and lodgings followed by post production and release bonuses that were in the region of USD $500k per bonus amounting to around USD $5-6million total "fee". Other supporting principle cast members received around USD$400 per day retainer plus food and lodgings and final bonuses amounting to around USD $2-3million. Some lesser and unknown actors like my friend Billy received less and you normally see these actors earning extra income doing the convention circuits.

Finally, no I don't know Martin personally I just feel there may be better and perhaps lesser known actors for Bilbo. For me, Martin's comedic performances are so good...(perhaps too good) to convincingly sell the seriousness and range of emotions that Bilbo frequently needs to portray.

Yeah but I've seen too many "comedians" turn very well to drama to write off Freeman on that basis. He's got that angsty twitchy energy I can see Bilbo emoting as the Dwarves merrily take over his home at the beginning of The Hobbit. Just my two cents. Thanks for the info on how actors get paid. King Arthur: Who are you who can summon fire without flint or tinder? Tim: There are some who call me... Tim.

Tim: Follow. But. Follow only if ye be TORNsibs of valour, for the making of The Hobbit is guarded by a creature so foul, so cruel that no TORNsib yet has fought with it and lived. Bones of an A List veteran director lie strewn about its lair. So, brave TORNsibs, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for Hollywood studio bureaucratic ineptitude awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth!

Studio Exec: And that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana-shaped. Studio CEO: This new learning amazes me, Studio Lapdog. Explain again how sheeps' bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes.

I think he would make a great Bilbo, and it's a shame, but I know he makes a great Watson to Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock. I fell for the new BBC 'Sherlock' series from a great height. For people who haven't seen Martin play 'serious' I can recommend it; he's certainly not a 'wussy sidekick' in my book! There will be a second set of three 90 minute shows screened in Autumn 2011 - and who knows, maybe more after that, if the quality remains as high as it was in the first three.

In an article I read recently that he has a two-year old child. Granted that it worked for Sean Astin and family, but - I'm merely guessing here! - not everyone wants to commit themselves and their family to that amount of time filming so far from home, and the resulting media circus etc, whatever the pay cheque may be.

It will be interesting to see how much of this "trauma" is covered in any extras on a blu-ray of the films - aka Extended Edition.

I agree, I have been thinking this all along. As an extra-feature hungry nerd, I am practically salivating.

As for the news that this may in fact be true, it is very disheartening. Martin Freeman has been my first choice since the beginning, and I'm glad to know that Peter is at least as smart as me (haha). But it may be that there is some unknown actor out there who will break out of the woodwork and surprise us all as a definitive Bilbo.

On the one hand, it seems unbelievable that a cash-strapped studio like MGM would offer seven figures, especially in light of the LOTR actors not being paid near as much. However, on the other, the Sun is not the most reliable news source ever (no offense meant, but some of their headlines just make me laugh). I'm hoping that Freeman turning down the role is just a rumor - we need some good news about The Hobbit. Not all those who wander are lost.

I've never been able to imagine Martin Freeman as Bilbo so the idea that he doesn't want to be - if he doesn't - doesn't fill me with dismay. On the other hand, if he really is the production team's first choice, then I hope for their sake that this is no more reliable than any other story in The Sun. It must be so disheartening for them to face setback after setback (and if they want him then odds are that I'm wrong and he is a good choice).

But if he really doesn't want to do it, then I hope they manage to find someone just as good or maybe even better.

He wouldn't make a bad Bilbo I suppose if he were costumed right - but Martin Freeman IS Bilbo to me - right now walking around in modern day clothes. King Arthur: Who are you who can summon fire without flint or tinder? Tim: There are some who call me... Tim.

Tim: Follow. But. Follow only if ye be TORNsibs of valour, for the making of The Hobbit is guarded by a creature so foul, so cruel that no TORNsib yet has fought with it and lived. Bones of an A List veteran director lie strewn about its lair. So, brave TORNsibs, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for Hollywood Studio Bureaucratic Ineptitude awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth!

Studio Exec: And that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana-shaped. Studio CEO: This new learning amazes me, Studio Lapdog. Explain again how sheeps' bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes.

... Tom Hollander - funny, isn't it, how differently we picture things. He even has the right build for a hobbit and in his most recent role on TV he had that same 'doing the right thing but also half resenting it' manner that Bilbo does.

Martin was my first (and only) choice (as some of you know). He IS Bilbo in the way that Cate Blanchette WAS Galadriel and Ian McKellan WAS Gandalf. To this date, I can't see anyone else in those roles. And whatever flaws the films developed as they went on (and they were many), having a near-perfect cast was one of things that offset them and elevated the films.

It would be such a crime if first we lost DelToro and then we lost Martin to this stupid situation. I am heartened to know that he was, in fact, PJ and DelToro's first choice. Hopefully, the Sun is wrong. Either way, I think if there's any legitimate reason for holding up the films, it's for Martin. I feel the same about DelToro, except that I know his schedule isn't going to clear until about 2032.

Much as I'm looking forward to Martin's version of Watson, there's just no reason that the schedule of a BBC miniseries should prove insurmountable here.